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Ok all, I have a new Facebook Fan page!  Currently there is a contest going on, so give it a "like" and give me a challenge!

www.facebook.com/thepixieshtick

Eggplant Parmesian/Lasagna

Everyone loves cheesy, saucy goodness right?  Right!  So, here's a healthy take on a long-time favorite.  Ok, here's the shtick:

The Ingredients

Spaghetti sauce

Eggplants

Eggs

Breadcrumbs

Mozzerella cheese

The Magic

Take your magnificent Eggplants (I used two medium eggplants for this dish), and slice them any way you like.  You can do longwise thin/thick, or into circles.  I cut mine into strips so they layer like lasagna.  Crack open three eggs and whisk them together (for a healthier option, just use the whites!).  Dip the strips into the eggs, then into the breading.  Line the pan with one layer.

  Pour about 1/3 of one can of spaghetti sauce over the eggplants, just enough to cover everything.  Top with some fat-free mozzerella.  Then, repeat!  I like to add a can of diced tomatoes with basil and oregano in between as well.

Mine has 3 layers to it here. The number of layers will be determined by how big of a pan you use, and how big the eggplants were. 

Top with a lot of cheese, and bake for 45 minutes.  If you want, top with some Parmesan too!

Be creative with it!   If you like mushrooms, toss some mushrooms in!  Love White Cheddar?  Give it a shot on top!  Cooking is a fun experience made all the better through imagination!

Now then.... .Andiamo a mangiare!  Let's Eat!

Spectacular Stuffing

Sorry for the delay everyone!  Don't worry, the food pixy is back!  Today we are going to make some AMAZING stuffing.  The stuff in the box/bag is good, nice seasoning...but needs just a bit of help to really be spectacular.  Don't worry, it's super easy!  Alright....here's the shtick:

The Ingredients

1 Can/Bag/etc. of Stuffing

Bacon

1 Granny Smith Apple

Butter

The Magic

Ok, first thing's first.  Go ahead and take your bacon, about three to four strips, and dice it up into large chunks, as seen over here --->

Melt the butter in a skillet, and toss the yummy bites in!

Watching bacon cook is kindof like watching paint dry...but much more dangerous.  So, while keeping a sharp eye on the sputtering bacon, chop up one granny smith apple.

Once the bacon is nice and crispy, toss in the dried stuffing mix, and add whatever the mix calls for, usually just water.

**NOTE** You will need to cut down the amount of water added, based on how much grease the bacon left behind!!  No soggy stuffing!!

Then, stir and cover for about a minute to let the breadcrumbs get a bit of a headstart on the....APPLE which you then add.  Gently poke the apple bits in, using your judgement as to how much of the apple you actually put in.

Once it's set (covered or uncovered, follow the box instructions) fluff and stir it a bit, then serve!

PICTURE COMING SOON....ish

.... ...Andiamo a mangiare! LET'S EAT

BBQ Chicken Mushroom Melt

Hey all!  So, you get an amazing whole chicken and make a great meal.  That's wonderful and I'm proud of you all!  ...Now you have tons of leftover chicken.  Here's a super quick and easy fix for that!  Yummy BBQ, cheesy...cheese.  Yeah, you don't need much more.  Ok, here's the Shtick:

Ingredients

Leftover Chicken

BBQ Sauce

Cheese
Bread

White Wine (optional)

The Magic

First thing's first, cut off however much you think you'll need from the carcass.  Then, cut the strips into easy to bite chunks, as shown to the left.

 I SAID TO THE LEFT!!!! *facepalm*

Then, toss them in a skillet where you've already melted some butter.  Slice up mushrooms (or open the can, whichever) and toss them in with the chicken.  Cover with BBQ sauce.  Let them cook together for a minute, then add White Cooking Wine if you have it.

While that's cooking, go ahead and make some toast.  Just...plop some bread in the toaster.  Or, if you don't have a toaster you have to make a choice.  Either make the sandwich on regular bread, or get another small skillet, melt butter in it, and toss the bread in.  The choice is yours to make.

Once the toast is done and everything in the skillet is nice and combined, toss portions of the chicken and mushrooms onto one side of the bread.  Top with whatever cheese you like, but I recommend staying to white cheeses.

 Then...all done!  Top with the other piece of toast and press down.  Give the sandwich a few minutes to melt the cheese and soak into the toast a bit. Then, cut and serve!

 

Yummy!!!!!  .... ...Andiamo a mangiare! LET'S EAT

Leftover Macaroni Goodness

Ok.  You know it happens.  A barbeque, cookout, tailgating, kids-choose-dinner-day, whatever, you ALWAYS end up with leftover mac-n-cheese right?  And it's never as good the second time around.  Well, here's a way to easily spruce it up for a whole new dinner!  AND, because It's mac-n-cheesey goodness remains in the dish, kids just might prefer it!  Note: This dinner could be made with non-leftovers...but make sure the noodles cool completely before the second cooking.  Ok, here's the Shtick:

Ingredients

Leftover Mac

Frozen Broccoli

Bacon

The Magic

Get a saucepan.  Slice up some bacon into small chunks.  Cook through.  Then, add the frozen broccoli.  Let that warm through.  When it's almost done warming, toss in any leftover mac-n-cheese you have.  

Now, ok stay with me on this one it's complicated.   You ready?

...

...

...

...

...

...

YOU'RE DONE!  

Really, it's just that simple.  Making a fantastic dish doesn't need a ton of ingredients.  Feel like doing something different?  Add some mushrooms!  Or, if you like, olives!  Get creative!

To make it a family activity, after you add the mac, ask the kids to stir, and see what else they want to put in it.  Pepperoni?  Great! I should've thought of that!

...Andiamo a mangiare! LET'S EAT

Ravioli with Mushrooms and Shrimp

Ravioli with Mushrooms and Shrimp in a cheesy Alfredo sauce.  Sound fancy-schmancy and hard right?  NO WAY!! This recipe is easy and fun, and the end results are super yummy!  Plus, it's one of those awesome dishes that everyone thinks took you forEVER to make ;)  Ok, here's the Shtick:

The Ingredients

 Frozen Ravioli

Medium shrimp

Mushrooms

Alfredo Sauce

Butter

The Magic:

Ok.  First thing you want to do is fill a pot halfway with water, and add some salt and oil.  Then, bring it to a boil.  Once boiling, add the ravioli and cook for a few minutes, until warmed all the way through.

While you are waiting for the water to boil, you can prepare the shrimp! I prefer the tail on.  This is because, while it requires an extra step to get ready, you can save the tails to make a shrimp stock later.  **Factoid:  A stock is made from bones and meat, broth is made from meat**  To detail a shrimp, just grab at the base of the skeleton, and wiggle a bit.  You'll get the hang of it soon!

 Now melt a pad of butter and some minced garlic in a medium saucepan.  Add the shrimp and one can of mushrooms.  Cook until warmed all the way through (or, if using raw shrimp, the shrimp are pink and translucent).


Then, just add the alfredo sauce!  Continue cooking until it bubbles and is nice and hot!

When the ravioli are cooked, strain them.  Then, combine and enjoy!  Again, mine is pictured with some spicy seasoning and parsley on top.

 Gah this looks sooo good!!  ...Andiamo a mangiare! LET'S EAT!

Tuna Noodle

Tuna Noodle is a fun and easy meal that I've been eating since I was younger.  Now, I'll spiff it up just a tad, and make it an even more-scrumptious meal! Alright, here's the Shtick:

Ingredients

Some sort of small pasta

Cream of Mushroom soup

Extra Mushrooms (opt.)

Peas

Mozzerella

Garlic

The Magic:

First things first, choose your pasta.  Whatever small pasta you have lying around will work.  I am using miniature bow ties.  Also, I am using the whole box, which feeds four (I like leftovers).

Get a big pot, fill it halfway (depending on the noodles, you want several inches covering them) and put a sprinkle of salt and a bit of oil into the water.  Bring to a boil.  Pour however much of the pasta you are using into the water.  Cook about 9 minutes.  To test, take one out and eat it (oh the sacrifices one makes while cooking).  It should be tender, but not mushy.



Then, drain the noodles and transfer to a large skillet.  Dump in 1 1/2 cups of peas, 2 cans of tuna, and one can of mushrooms (if desired) onto the noodles.  Cook together until the peas are warm.  Then, toss in two handfuls of Mozzarella cheese, and drizzle in some of the garlic jar juice, and a bit of garlic too (for good measure).



Go ahead and do a taste test, and alter as desired.  Then, serve and enjoy!  I have topped mine (below) with a bit of spicy seasoning, because I enjoy spice.

 All this cooking has made me hungry!!!  ....Andiamo a mangiare! LET'S EAT!